Use of human milk oligosaccharides in calves fattening

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of human milk oligosaccharides for feeding production animals such as calves. The present invention further relates to milk replacer compositions containing human milk oligosaccharides. Further subject matter of the present invention is a method for preventing and treating gastrointestinal diseases, particularly gastro-intestinal infections, of young production animals, in particular calves, by administering an effective amount of one or more human milk oligosaccharides. Particularly useful in the context of the present invention as one or the human milk oligosaccharide is 2′-fucosyllactose (2-FL).

1 . Milk replacer composition containing at least one human milk oligosaccharide. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the oligosaccharide is 2′-fucosyllactose. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  containing the human milk oligosaccharide in an amount of from 0.5 to 10.0 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  containing the human milk oligosaccharide in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  containing the human milk oligosaccharide in an amount of 4.0 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the human milk oligosaccharide is a synthetic oligosaccharide prepared in bacterial culture. 
     
     
         7 . Use of one or more human milk oligosaccharides in feeding of production animals. 
     
     
         8 . The use of  claim 7  wherein the human milk oligosaccharide is used in calves mast. 
     
     
         9 . The use of  claim 8  wherein the human oligosaccharide is 2′-fucosyllactose. 
     
     
         10 . A human milk oligosaccharide or a composition of human milk oligosaccharides for use in the prevention of gastro-intestinal diseases of production animals. 
     
     
         11 . The human milk oligosaccharide for use of  claim 10  wherein the production animal is a calf. 
     
     
         12 . The human milk oligosaccharide for use of  claim 11  wherein the oligosaccharide is 2′-fucosyllactose. 
     
     
         13 . A method for feeding a production animal comprising the step of feeding a production animal with a milk replacer composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the animal is a calf.